The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-12-08
A "WET, BLANKET


In the Atlanta Constitution we find
the following report of Yellowstone
Kits speech, which is said to havebeen
the "wet" blanket which cooled the
colored vote for prohibition to such an
extent in Atlanta as to cause its de-
feat:
Yellowstone Kit is small man, less
than five feet eight inches in height.
He weighs less than one hundred
pounds, but he wears more hair and
draws a purer bead than a hundred.
For more than ten years he has been
moving from place to place. Two
months ago or less Kit reached At
lanta. His waving curly locks pro-
claimed his identity before he was pub
licly introduced to the people.
Soon after the great medicine man
that's what he is c4lled-came t. At
ianta the prohibition question came up.
at first Kit was not a part or parcel of
it, because no one knew him, but in a
short time it was ascertained that he
had no little influence over the colored
people, to whom he was giving charity
lavishly, and to whom he was doing
good. Then an attempt was made by
both elements to secure his aid, but to
both he turned a deaf ear. The at
tempts were followed by anonymous
letters, in which he was threatened
with death, Punishment and everything
else if he went dry. Soon after the let
tiers came committeeS-committees
from both prohis and ants, but to both
he gave the same answer, and that an
SWer was:
II am a free man. 1 shall do as !
think right. l never sold my vote,
my voice, or my influence. If 1 think
| it right to go dry shall, and the vets
can't buy me; and if think it right to
go wet the dries can't buy me-"
The result was watched with interest
| by all. Nobody was more closely
watched, and when Kit made his anti
| talk on Tuesday night the town was
astonished, and great part of it
| pleased.
Last night the space around his
| stand was crowded again, standing
room being above par when he walked
out to falkland his talk was grand
He was pleasant and polite in all he
| said, and at all times had complete
control over his audience. He said:
True, Honest Women and Mothers
of Atlanta: Feeling keenly the situa-
/ ton find in Atlanta to-day, feeling
| from my heart that father is against
1 son, brother against brother, and
| friends of years divided in opinion
l would appeal to the mothers and
daughters of Atlanta, not for any OBJ
| ject to attain, not for any cOnSidera
ton, not to please any clique or clan
This, aud this only, an interest in the
welfare of your sons, in the peace an6
happiness of your homes. For years
have spoken for happy homes. All my
life have pleaded for the young. Early
in life was thrown in wild, reckless
communications.
without home or friends 1 passed
many years of my life; still, all through
that life my mothers face has been be
fore me, my mothers advice has chung
to me, my mothers wishes have guideC
me. Tothat mother owe all; to thai
mother would give my all. If have
friends now owe it to my mother; If
have wealth to her do / owe it.
i She is all this world to me, and 6
grander, greater wish can not express
than to still feel that / deserve hel
love, her good wishes and prayers. Good
mothers of Atlanta, with you rests
your sons safety, and perhaps YOU
sons life. Think and study well how
not to lead him into temptation. How
shall you protect him? His honor il
dear to you, his every footstep sounds
pleasant music to your ear. All, moth
er, you know your son is in danger, you
know your home is threatened, you fee
your pulse quicken as you think what
might be. Passion for drink may bC
your sons fault. Temptation may have
led him wrong. The wine first tasted
in beautiful glass from some fail
lady's hand, from business associations
no matter what the cause the effect il
the same. Now, dear mother, can THU
prohibition save your SOM Can this
prohibition remove the temptation!
Does this prohibition Danish wines and
liquors from your parlor2 Does this
prohibition Danish it from the homes
your sons may visit? Does this prohi-
bition prevent 1t from coming to your